The Third Victim: Yu Xiaogang

"Bind Tang Hao. Bind everything to Tang Hao."

Ding. Detected that the Host's excessive physical training is affecting his height and physique. Would you like to bind a recipient?

"This should be bound to Tang San." Since this would not affect his own cultivation through the recipient, Ning Chuan naturally dumped it on Tang San.

Time flew by. Over the next three months, Ning Chuan left early and returned late. During the day, he carried stones and ran around near Saint Soul Village, training like mad and wrecking his body. At night, he meditated through the night, constantly farming Side Effects and transferring them to Tang Hao. His progress could only be described as rapid.

Not only had his physique strengthened considerably, but his Soul Power had also risen from half a level to level five.

And now, the day to enroll at Notting Academy had finally arrived.

Because Emperor Soul Village was even farther from Notting City, Old Tom set off with Ning Chuan at dawn, when the sky had only just begun to brighten.

Meanwhile, Tang San's family had it rough.

Early in the morning, Tang San returned home after cultivating the Purple Demon Eyes.

Compared to three months ago, Tang San had become even darker. Calling him a lump of charcoal would not have been an exaggeration—he was Tang Black Charcoal through and through.

At the same time, his body had begun to look faintly disproportionate. His physical strength had clearly not improved much, yet he had developed useless dead muscle. Even his arms and thighs seemed slightly misshapen.

At first, he thought something had gone wrong with his cultivation, but aside from looking uglier, he did not feel any physical discomfort.

After preparing porridge as usual, Tang San called toward the inner room of the blacksmith shop, "Dad, breakfast is ready."

Strangely, Tang Hao, who always came out the moment he heard it was time to eat, did not appear today.

Tang San's heart tightened. Could Dad be sick? He hurried into Tang Hao's room.

Tang Hao lay silently on that filthy, foul-smelling bed, which was practically rotten. His once sallow face had somehow turned deathly pale. Cold sweat seeped from his forehead, and his features were twisted in a painful grimace.

"Why did you come in? Didn't I tell you that you weren't allowed in here without my permission?"

Tang Hao suddenly opened his eyes after Tang San entered.

"Dad, are you sick?"

Tang San asked worriedly. Because his skin had turned charcoal-black, his not-so-white teeth looked especially conspicuous in the dim room.

Tang Hao slowly sat up and shook his head. "I'm fine. Go out and eat."

Fine, my ass.

He did not know what was going on either.

Ever since his son Tang San awakened his martial soul, his entire body had been in terrible pain, as though an ordinary person had done the heavy labor of ten people every day. Both his muscles and bones ached terribly. Even his Meridians were affected; in the latter half of every night, they swelled and throbbed with pain.

On top of that, his spiritual power, Soul Power, and stamina were being heavily drained. Though it was nothing much for a Titled Douluo like him, after someone had relentlessly worn him down day and night for three straight months, even a Titled Douluo's astonishing recovery ability could not keep up.

It left him feeling miserable day and night.

Combined with the hidden injuries left from his battle with Qian Xunji, it was practically killing him.

Most importantly, he had discovered that his Soul Power could no longer increase. It had remained stuck at level ninety-two, where it had been after the battle with Spirit Hall six years ago.

Of course, Tang Hao knew none of this. He merely assumed that his old injuries had relapsed.

That had to be the only explanation.

Tang San still wanted to say something, but Tang Hao cut him off sternly. "Enough. If I say I'm fine, then I'm fine. From now on, children should stay out of adult matters. Also, clean up after breakfast. Old Jack will take you to Notting Academy later."

"I understand, Dad."

Tang San knew he would not get anything out of him, so he did not press further. Still, he vaguely felt that his father was hiding something.

After breakfast, Tang San set off with Old Jack.

Although Ning Chuan and Old Tom had left before them, Emperor Soul Village was farther from Notting City, so they still arrived a little later.

By then, Tang San seemed to have already gotten into a conflict with the gatekeeper.

When Ning Chuan and Old Tom arrived, they happened to see them standing with a middle-aged man holding a Spirit Certificate.

The man appeared to be around forty or fifty. He was of average height and slightly thin, with ordinary features, thick lips, a crew cut, and heavy stubble on his face. His whole person looked somewhat dejected.

Yet a faint smile hung on his face, showing that he was in quite a good mood.

"Yu Xiaogang?"

Ning Chuan narrowed his eyes slightly, roughly guessing the man's identity.

Old Tom stepped forward and asked, "Old Jack, who is this?"

Though the two old men bickered constantly, they actually had a good relationship. Seeing Old Tom arrive with Ning Chuan, and afraid that they might be harassed by the gatekeeper as well, Old Jack quickly said, "Old Tom, let me introduce you. This is the Master of Notting Academy. Master, this is Old Tom from Emperor Soul Village. He's also brought a child here to enroll at Notting Academy. Could you please..."

Ning Chuan did not think much of it, but Old Tom, an ordinary person facing Yu Xiaogang, a Soul Master, could not help feeling nervous. "Master..."

Yu Xiaogang glanced at Tang San, suppressing the excitement and impatience in his heart. Then he casually looked Ning Chuan over a few times. Seeing that the boy's eyes were lively, he thought that he might also be a genius, so he smiled. "Let me see your Spirit Certificate as well..."

If this child's talent was good enough, and his Innate Soul Power reached level nine or above, Yu Xiaogang would not be opposed to considering him as a disciple.

Unfortunately, he was soon disappointed.

He looked over the Spirit Certificate Old Tom handed him. When he saw the words "Martial Soul: Bamboo Sword" and "Innate Soul Power Half Level," the faint smile on his originally stiff face immediately collapsed.

Especially when he saw the words "Innate Soul Power Half Level," it was as though something had triggered a sensitive nerve.

A peculiar icy aura radiated from his body.

"All right, both certificates are valid. Sir, I apologize to you on behalf of the academy for what happened earlier. Leave this child to me. As for the other child, just have him take his Spirit Certificate inside and enroll directly."

Yu Xiaogang kept only Tang San's Spirit Certificate and apologized to Old Jack. As for Ning Chuan and Old Tom, after casually returning their Spirit Certificate, he did not spare them another glance.

The contrast before and after was so abrupt, and his change of expression so dramatic, that even Ning Chuan, who had been prepared, could not help being stunned.

Well, damn. The more inferior he felt, the more arrogant he became.

Who was he looking down on with that superior attitude?